The best of the Garden Route and Route 62.

Many visitors to South Africa wanting to do the Garden Route wonder what the best way to explore the Garden Route is.

The most popular route for international visitors, especially those who want to visit Cape Town as well, would start their journey in Cape Town and then drive their way along the Garden Route down to Port Elizabeth. Those wanting to experience a safari would then further extend their trip to the various malaria free game reserves of the Eastern Cape, before flying back to Cape Town or Johannesburg.

Surprisingly a lot of visitors doing the Garden Route drive from Cape Town to George or Knysna and then head to Oudtshoorn, from here they make their way back to Cape Town. This is surprising as the Garden Route’s prettiest parts actually start from George towards Port Elizabeth. Also when you come to South Africa you have to do a Safari and just a short drive from Port Elizabeth is the only big 7 National Park in South Africa - Addo Elephant National Park.

Another popular route in South Africa is the famous Route 62. You will often see the Garden Route being promoted alongside Route 62. This is mainly because of the R62 area named the Klein Karoo (of which Oudtshoorn is probably the epicentre) is quite a short drive from George. Route 62 can be divided into 4 groups namely Cape, Winelands, Klein Karoo and Langkloof.

Our Route will guide you through the Garden Route and then back on the R62 via the Klein Karoo and Langkloof. This area of South Africa is somewhat a complimentary contrast to the Garden Route and a completely different experience. This area of the country will take you through the countryside famous for its ostriches as well as fruit farms amongst others. As Oudtshoorn is such a popular destination it is a must visit for those doing the Garden Route and we thought it best to share a route that combines the two. From Oudtshoorn you can return to Port Elizabeth via the Langkloof on Route 62 or head to Cape Town also via Route 62 past Barrydale from Oudtshoorn.

Here is our route with some suggested activities along the route, please add additional suggestions.

Port Elizabeth – Nelson Mandela Bay.

Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage, Despatch and Colchester), an excellent value-for-money-family-fun-in-the-sun-holiday destination, named after Nelson Mandela - humanitarian, freedom fighter and world icon of peace - is located 763 km east of Cape Town, is regarded as the "official" gateway to the scenic Eastern Cape Province and the world renowned Garden Route and is sometimes referred to (by the people who know her best) as the "friendly city" or the "water sport capital of Africa". - See more at: www.nmbt.co.za 

Some of the unique things to see and do:

1. Algoa Bay Hope Spot experience – Penguin Patrol
2. The Original Big 7 Safari experience
3. Mohair experience
4. Route 67 experience
5. Various cultural and historical experiences
6. The Port Elizabeth Hop on Beer Route
7. Cruising Algoa Bay experience
8. Cape Recife, Lighthouse and Grysbok Nature Reserve 4 x 4 Experience
9. Experience a wide variety of Adventure
10. Get the Nelson Mandela Bay Pass for a variety of experiences. This offers exceptional value for money!

To read more on the above click here: 10 must do experiences

Alternatively read our 101 things to see and do list

 

Jeffreys Bay

Jeffreys Bay is home of the best right hand surf break in the world. International surfers flock to catch the legendary waves in this, a paradise of sunshine, aloes, dolphins, shells, perfect points & classic reefs. Surfers and others who found it hard to leave such an idyllic spot have turned Jeffreys Bay into a year round fun place to be, creating a thriving local craft industry besides the surf shops on just about every corner. - See more at: www.jeffreysbaytourism.org

Top activities in Jeffreys Bay:

1. African Dawn Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary
2. Shell Museum
3. Dolphin Beach Entertainment
4. Fountains Mall
5. Island Vibe Surf Camp

 

St. Francis Bay

Unspoiled beaches, a rugged coastline, a river linked to a unique canal system and nature areas with numerous footpaths through unique fynbos species all await holiday makers and visitors from around the world in our beautiful St Francis – one of the Kouga Region’s hidden treasures.  See more at: www.stfrancistourism.co.za

Top activities in and around St. Francis Bay:

1. The Chokka Trail 
2. SANCCOB Penguin Rehabilitation Centre
3. St Francis Links
4. St. Francis Boat Trips and canal cruises
5. Irma Booysen Nature Reserve

 

Tsitsikamma

Tsitsikamma - the Garden of the Garden Route welcomes you - Tsitsikamma is a khoi word meaning “place of abundant or sparkling water”. The region, which sits on a 200m high plateau stretches from the Bloukrans River in the west to the Tsitsikamma River in the east, is bordered on the north by the imposing Tsitsikamma Mountains and in the south by the Indian Ocean.  - See more at: www.tsitsikamma.info

Top activities in and around Tsitsikamma:

1. Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour
2. Tsitsikamma Falls Adventures
3. Tsitsikamma Segway Tours
4. Bloukrans Bungy ‘highest bungee from a bridge’ in the world 
5. Garden Route National Park

 

Plettenberg Bay

Plettenberg Bay is a premier holiday destination situated on the Southern Cape coast of South Africa. Plett, as it is popularly known, has sweeping golden beaches, the iconic Robberg Peninsula, intriguing lagoons and estuaries, towering indigenous forests and unpolluted rivers, vineyards and wine estates. - See more at: www.plett-tourism.co.za

Top activities in and around Plettenberg Bay:

1. Monkeyland
2. Birds of Eden
3. Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary
4. Keurbooms River Ferries
5. Robberg Nature Reserve

 

Knysna

The beautiful town of Knysna, situated a mere 73kms from the George airport, is situated within 157 000 hectares of the proclaimed Garden Route National Park. It is nestled between the shores of the pristine Knysna estuary, Indian Ocean and thousands of hectares of beautiful indigenous forest, home to a myriad of wild- and birdlife as well as the famed Cape fynbos. - See more at: www.visitknysna.co.za

Top activities in and around Knysna:

1. Wildoats Market (Sedgfield)
2. The Rastafarian Cultural Tour
3. The Featherbed Nature Reserve Experience
4. Knysna Oyster Experience
5. Knysna Elephant Park

Oudtshoorn

The town of Oudtshoorn is situated in the Klein Karoo between the Swartberg and Outeniqua mountains. Oudtshoorn is the ostrich capital of the world. The world's biggest bird is just one of the many attractions in this area of exceptional contrasts and natural beauty. - See more at: www.oudtshoorn.com

Top activities in and around Oudtshoorn:

1. The Cango Caves
2. Cango Ostrich Farm
3. The Cango Wildlife Rance
4. Wine Tours
5. Artkaroo Gallery

 

Langkloof back to Port Elizabeth 

The Langkloof is a 160 km long valley in South Africa, lying between Herold, a small village north of George, and The Heights - just beyond Twee Riviere. The kloof was given its name by Isaq Schrijver in 1689, and more thoroughly explored by a later expedition under ensign August Frederik Beutler in 1752.The valley has been farmed since 1760 and is an important fruit-growing region, specifically of apples. Joubertina is both the largest and the youngest town in the Langkloof, and was founded in 1907 as a Dutch-Reformed community, named in honour of the Rev. W.A. Joubert of Uniondale, who banned the sale of alcohol in the town, a ban which was never lifted but is now ignored. The Langkloof is also home to early Bushman paintings and the Kouga mummy — the only mummy ever found in Southern Africa from a cave in the Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area. - See more at: www.route62-info.co.za

Top activities in the Langkloof:

1. The Belfry Kitchen and Post Office
2. Tractor trailer ride and Forest walk at Assegaaibosch
3. Explore the Onder Kouga
4. The Formosa Nature Reserve
5. Play Golf in the Langkloof